After reviewing the service records several times I have concluded that the automatic transmission fluid has never been changed. Not in 150,000 miles.
So, how difficult should it be to call around and find a shop that will change it anyway? Next to impossible I discovered. Every shop I contacted within 50 miles said unequivocally NO! Half of them said leave it alone.
Here is the problem. Like so many other manufacturers these days, VW did not include a dipstick for the transmission. They call it “sealed” and state there are no user serviceable parts! I think they recommend changing the fluid every 30,000 – 60,000 miles. Of course, according to VW, the dealer must do it. Probably the biggest reason the dealer needs to do it is that the only way to be assured of the proper fluid level is to open up an overflow hole in the transmission by removing a plug and adding fluid until it runs out while the transmission is at precisely the correct temperature. As in the porridge that Goldilocks encountered, fluid can be much hotter or not hot enough depending upon the amount of time you run the engine. How then does one know when the fluid is at the proper temperature? By connecting the vehicle up to a computer, of course.

So, in a nut shell, here is my dilemma:

• The fluid has never been changed.
• The correct formula fluid is not off the shelf stuff.
• When refilling the transmission, the vehicle must be level and the transmission temperature should be around 104 degrees. (Normal operating temperature is considerably higher.
• After this many miles, disturbing the fluid can dislodge all sorts of crap that can damage or destroy the transmission.

Thanks to Duane Schwab out in Texas, I now have a dipstick kit. I also purchased a Scangauge 2 (a handy device that will monitor all sorts of things including transmission fluid temperature). I have ordered the gasket, filter and fluid which should be here Thursday.
So, Friday is the day! I’m going to drain the fluid, drop the pan, change the filter, install a dipstick, replace the pan and fill’er up.
It that doesn’t destroy the transmission, I will head to Standing Indian campground on Monday.
I’ll be holding my breath until then.